This review is long overdue! My entire family trains at this gym. BJJ has truly transformed us for…read morethe better. My kids have gained so many valuable life skills both on and off the mat -- confidence, strength, resilience, and discipline. This gym has become like a second home for us. We absolutely love all the coaches here; it's evident how much they care about the growth and development of each student. They maintain a great balance of structure and fun -- firm enough to keep the kids focused, yet encouraging and engaging so they continue to enjoy the sport. This gym is perfect for the whole family -- kids and adults alike. If you're a woman who's ever felt intimidated or never imagined yourself doing martial arts, this is the place for you. The coaches and community make it so comfortable and welcoming that I was able to ease into BJJ with confidence.

Our son began training here in 2021, during the pandemic, and I was deeply impressed by the…read moreprecautions and safety measures implemented to protect both the children and adults. This academy is, without a doubt, one of the most beginner-friendly places to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, whether for kids or adults. The coaches are not only highly skilled professionals but also teach with genuine passion and dedication. They truly care about the growth of students, both on and off the mat. The environment is welcoming and family -oriented, fostering a strong sense of community and team spirit. Additionally, the ample parking and comfortable seating for waiting parents are much appreciated. As parents, we wholeheartedly endorse this academy and are grateful to be part of its community.

Updating my review after a handful of years. My family's experience at Cosmic has continued to be…read morepositive. My kids have been with the program for many years now and I am very pleased with their progress. Coach Joseph can be strict with the kids during training, but he cares deeply about them. He not only wants them to continue to build on their jiujitsu skills, but he also wants them to grow into strong, resilient individuals who can overcome any obstacle. He teaches the kids to be respectful to their parents, instructors, and peers. Discipline is one of the core attribute of martial arts and it's great to see that in every class. Some coaches may seem tough on the outside, but they're also fun and extremely nurturing because many of them are dads of the kids that train there. The best way to find out is to try out a class!

You'll almost always feel welcome here. Especially if you are a child, for example, a 12-year-old…read moregirl lost count of an exercise she was doing, and he snapped at her & asked if he needed to count for her! He will call the kids boy or girl rather than by their actual name to make them feel worse. He used the excuse that this is a rough sport to justify his abuse. He even laughed at a little boy who had accidentally gotten hurt and mocked his pain by saying, "Blood, sweat, & tears!" And he didn't even check to see if he was okay or tell his parents what happened to him, what if he got a bruise or god forbid was bleeding?! He views their failures as burdens for him rather than obstacles for them to overcome. And the curriculum is seemingly too random and doesn't focus enough on systems. He will sometimes pressure the good kids for no discernible reason; that makes no sense. So if you believe teachers shouldn't be held accountable but children should, then this place is for you! He couldn't even look me in the eye when he told me to trust his process, but he screams at a little boy to look at him when he is carelessly reprimanding him. He will use any excuse to scream at the kids instead of being more patient with them. My entire journey with him was boiling frog syndrome. All these kids he's tormenting with his childlike screaming and lies are gonna have broken brains, good job! It would be extremely helpful if he asked his students for feedback and found ways to improve his methods instead of losing his temper. He just drops random stuff on us and expects us to do it perfectly. He laughed when I misheard his instructions, and he enjoys humiliating his students in front of everyone and thinks it's good. He'd better get it right if he doesn't want his precious trophies to stop coming in. I have lost my temper here before I admit it. And maybe some kids who need to be pushed, everyone is different. But do you really want to take that risk with every kid? And yes, I overreacted when he posted an Instagram story where he joked about not turning on the a/c during a hot day of 2024. He also had this competition training technique, I think he called Red Alert, where if your opponent is being unfair and breaks your arm, he won't do anything about it. And the sweat test, which I previously mentioned. And as mentioned in my previous review, there was the 200 squats group punishment, but what I haven't mentioned about it was how he unnervingly laughed about the way the tears streamed down their face. That is a form of corporal punishment. And I can't abide that because it is immoral. He often lets the kids play a bit after class, and there was one time when a little boy was playing tag with his brother wasn't playing tag. And they acted like he hit him and threatened him 100 burpees if he did it again. Instead of hearing his side of the story and then Coach Nate mocked him for being scared of Coach Joseph. He has done kind things for them from time to time, but that's not going to cancel out all the harshness he has and still is inflicting on his students. Provoking hope amuses sadists. And I may have misunderstood Coach Martinez jokingly calling some kids liars. I also misjudged the capoeira/MMA coach; he is a good man who just has a really intense way of teaching. He used his dog to distract the students during one of the comp classes, and got mad at them for looking at her. It's an imbalanced power disparity. Then there is the matter of those martial arts camps he is a part of. The way he described them made it sound like he'll break the kid's spirits with pain to "help" them. Kids don't have the option to leave unless their parent(s) or guardians say otherwise. And he said, "We will do in a month what the parents won't dare do in a lifetime." Seems like he thinks he can raise them better. Hardly any kids will tell someone about this abuse since most kids don't do that. I should know, I've been there. They often don't know how to express themselves yet. He hates their innocence, and that fake smile and condescending laugh of his. He said no matter what I say about him, he won't hold it against me. All that talk of integrity, and this is how he acts. He called two young boys weak for having soccer practice every other week, something they can't control. He also mocked me in a direct message on Instagram for having a rough childhood and "taking it out on everyone!" Don't trust this man to respect physical boundaries either. He would often snatch away my headphones to check them out or caress me without my consent. He also forced us to ask a question, so I asked the first one that popped into my head. And it wasn't very good, and the next day he said he had a new rule. Where every question will go through him first before asking a guest coach. "Because some of you have been asking some really stupid questions." He says. That's a wonderful way to talk about your autistic pupil. He also gaslights a lot.

Honestly, I have always wanted to get my kids enrolled in some type of martial arts because I am a…read morestrong believer that it helps with self confidence and for safety reasons. My 6 year old has been getting picked on from other kids in school and thats when I knew that I had to really start enrolling my kids asap. My hubby suggested hapkido and after some research we were so happy to find out that Kim's Hapkido just opened a location in Arcadia. We took our 4 & 6 year old to a free class trial and then enrolled them. They've been going for almost 2 months now and I must say the instructors are super patient and makes it super fun for the kids. My 4 year old doesn't really listen but they truly have been super understanding. My 6 year old loves it and actually looks forward to going to class. Prices are very reasonable and if you enroll more than one person then the price is cheaper. I'm super glad that we enrolled our kids at Kim's Hapkido and would highly suggest it for any adults or kids who is interested in learning martial arts. 2 Thumbs up from this parent! Tips: *Shared parking lot with other businesses or street parking. *Sundays are for private lessons by appointments. *Offers a free trial class. *If you have questions you can call. *Payments are monthly and automatic. *Have multiple locations. *Have IG.

Hapkido has been a guiding principle in our children's lives. Both my son and daughter go here…read more There are many types of martial arts with their own inherent benefits, but from my martial arts backgrounds, I chose this style for my children which is more of a blend of the styles I studied. My son's journey started 14 years ago in San Dimas where he studied under Grand Master Petermann, then Master Petermann, at 4 years old. We only went two times a week, but I liked their style and adherence to the traditional ways of Hapkido. When the San Dimas studio closed, they moved temporarily to the Masonic Temple in San Dimas. We later moved to the Pasadena studio (this is when my daughter started), then South Pasadena waiting for Arcadia to open. My son got his black belt under the training of both Mr. Tomas and Master Kim. His early training was from Grandmaster Peterman and Mr. and Mrs. Clark. My daughter is training for her black belt--some 10 years later, under the tutelage of Mr. Tomas, Ms. Kelly, and Mr. Salazar. WHAT A JOURNEY!!! We followed Mr. Tomas because he cares about his students--they are NOT dollar signs as some studios see them. He wants them to succeed but does NOT baby them. He teaches real world experiences that one would face with which Hapkido can help--it is not just fighting. These are life-building transferable skills you can use anywhere--plus defend yourself. I am a veteran high school teacher, and I can almost always tell a student who has been or is in martial arts. Confidence. Respectful, Perseverance. Control. Calm. Independent. Humble--they will get these here. Do not hesitate to go to this studio. Have you child watch or even join a practice. It will be one of the best decisions you will make in your children's life, in my opinion. They might even see my son there, Mr. Smead. Thank you to all that have helped my son reach his goals, and now my daughter to follow.

I have been coming to Krav Maga Unleashed for about two years…read more I have grown very stroked to come to class, in large part because all the teachers are so good. I'm a university professor so I am very familiar with the art of teaching and I really pay attention to how other people do it. And all the teachers are awesome. They explain everything very clearly, are totally present, pay attention to what the students are doing and give detailed feedback. And the the fact that they put in the effort makes all the students try harder.. Plus, it's a physical and mental work out that really adds to my quality of life so thank you. Hopefully I won't have to use any of this knowledge in the future, but I feel much better knowing that I know how to. Definitely 5 stars

I used to have a much more positive view of this Krav Maga gym, but unfortunately it has gone…read moresignificantly downhill and is now in a noticeable state of disarray. The biggest issues are poor management and a lack of clear organization. Communication is inconsistent, newsletters routinely come out late, and administrative follow-through is unreliable. Even basic things like belt test certificates have been delayed by more than a year after the actual test, which speaks to deeper operational problems. There also appears to be a steady decline in membership, which is not surprising given the current state of the gym. The environment feels less structured and less cohesive than it used to be. From a technical standpoint, Krav Maga here feels like a "jack of all trades, master of none." This is an inherent trait of Krav Maga, but if you're going to steal from other martial arts, you should know the pure form of the art as well (at least at the instructor level) to demonstrate the cleanest technique and explain why you're doing certain things. As a result, students get surface-level exposure rather than real proficiency in any one area. If you are looking for strong fundamentals or mastery of a specific discipline, this is not the place. I have also heard repeated concerns about instructors not being properly compensated. Allegedly, some people taught for long periods with little or no pay, which raises serious questions about how the gym treats its staff and values their time. To be clear, this gym was never the best even at its peak, but it was at least better run in the past. At this point, the lack of organization, declining quality, and management issues make it difficult to recommend. I hope they take a hard look at what is happening and make meaningful changes, because right now it feels like a gym that has lost its direction.

I love taking classes here everyone is very polite and always there to help you…read more The instructors know what they are doing , they have years of experience in aikido and they adjusts their teachings to every student capacity and level of training . Oh btw if you are a full time student or a member of the military they give you a discount

A great group of instructors! Training is available for all levels, from beginner to advanced…read morepractitioners. If you are looking to try a martial art that will teach you self defense skills, improve your agility, and get you in shape, this is a great place to start with a great group of people!!

Completed karate exams today…read more The dedication of the staff is demonstrated when three sensei and two sempai (all black belts) show up for one white belt testing! Most dojo (schools) would not even bother. This dojo is dedicated to the proper training of every student, no matter the rank. Quality vs. Quantity!

This is a great place to study traditional Shotokan Karate. The senseis are knowledgable and very…read morepatient. Probably the most reasonable rates in the San Gabriel Valley. Most of the senior practitioners have been attending for many years. I would highly recommend this dojo for kids as well as adults.

My son started practicing at the PJCI ten years ago.  I was bringing him to practice twice a week…read morewhen I decided to join myself.  There is a wide range of age and ability to suit everyone's needs.  There are currently five parent/child groups at the dojo.

Ive been a member of Pasadena Shotokan Karate Club since 2019. It's been an amazing experience so…read morefar and the benefits of our practice are countless if you stick with it.

Good dojo, Sensei Chinen is awesome. Everyone is friendly and respectful. Highly recommend checking…read morethis place out!!